OsTERHOUT: WHAT IS GERANIUM CAESPITOSUM JAMES? 83 
Fremont in his Expedition to the Rocky Mountains.”’ This 
plant was listed by Dr. Torrey in the catalogue as a “‘n. sp.” 
and given the name G. Fremontii, but I do not know of any 
description of it. Professor Heller failed to note the exact 
locality where Dr. James collected G. caespitosum, though he 
quotes from Dr. James’s description of the rocks and character 
of the country, and writes: “At this place, ‘about the sandstone 
ledges,’ is where he collected his Geranium, either in what is 
now the State of Nebraska, or at most, in extreme northeastern 
Colorado.’ Professor Heller also said that Dr. James did not 
go farther south than Pike’s Peak, which, of course, is a mistake. 
The recent makers of Rocky Mountain Floras differ in their 
treatment of the geraniums and in their disposition of G. caespito- 
sum. Dr. Trelease* accepts Dr. Gray’s identification of it 
with the Santa Fe plant and gives its range as “Arizona, 
New Mexico, and southward.’’ Dr. Nelsonf accepts Dr. Gray’s 
conclusion and makes G. atropurpureum Heller a synonym. He 
gives its range as ‘‘Central Colorado but occasionally north to 
Wyoming and south to New Mexico.’”’ Dr. Rydbergt accepts 
G. atropurpureum Heller and for G. caespitosum James makes a 
description much like Dr. Gray’s. He describes it as being 
found on “Plains, foot-hills, and the lower mountains: Colo.— 
Wyo.— Utah.” 
It is evident that the place to look for Geranium caespitosum 
James is the place where Dr. James collected it; that is, “about 
the sandstone ledges,” where the Long Expedition camped from 
July 6 to July 9, 1820. This place is so definite and so restricted 
that one looking for it can not miss it. ‘‘Our camp,” wrote Dr. 
James, “was immediately in front of the chasm, through which 
the Platte issues from the mountains.” On account of the 
rocky and hilly nature of the country the place has not been 
cultivated, and is in much the same condition as it was in 1820. 
Among the ravines of the sedimentary rocks a Geranium grows 
_abundantly and luxuriantly. It is G. Fremontu var. Parryi 
Engelm., more lately known as G. Parryi (Engelm.) Heller, 
and is the only Geranium found in the immediate vicinity. The 
reason why G. Parryi has not been associated with G. caes pito- 
* Syn. Fl. N. Am. 1: 359. 1897. 
+ Coulter & Nelson, New Man. Bot. Rocky Mt. 303. 1909. 
' PFI. Rocky Mts. 533. 1917. 
